Deputy Byrne has expressed her concern at the number of vacant units or 'voids' on the Council's books, which cannot be re-let as they require maintenance and repair.
"The housing situation in this city has reached crisis point. It is shocking that some local authority houses and flats have been lying empty for up to a year at a time when there are so many people in need of accommodation. I am fully aware that City Council maintenance crews are already stretched to the limit and that even carrying out day-to-day repair work has become troublesome for them, but re-letting vacant units must be a priority.
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"I deal with people on a daily basis who have a genuine housing need, many of whom have been on the Council housing list for years. Some of them are homeless, some are living with families in overcrowded conditions, and many are in rented accommodation in a poor state of repair. While properties owned by local authorities lie empty, the state is paying €436 million this year alone in rent supplement to private landlords. We urgently need a more sensible approach to the housing crisis.
"In response to my queries, the Minister of State for Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said that her Department is now placing greater emphasis on local authority social housing improvement works programmes and on the early return of vacant units to productive use."
(CD/GK)
